Primary Moss Safari Workshop Day

Year 6 students from Telscombe Cliffs Academy Primary School visited the Falmer campus to take part in a Moss Safari.

The event was run by the teaching courses science team, designed to support the science curriculum and to  inspire those taking part to consider university.

Introducing the 11-year-olds to the secret life in moss in a university setting is a great way to teach them about the unseen life on their doorstep.

The aim was to encourage curiosity, demystify microscopes and expose them to the possibilities of following STEM subjects as a hobby or career.

During the day the 90 primary students took part in rotating activities on the themes of ‘What will you discover?’

In the science labs they explored moss under the microscopes and also took a tour of campus, looking for where moss grew and the conditions in which it grows best. The tour also including the library, teaching spaces and cafeteria so the children could imagine life at university.

Moss Safari offers one of the simplest and most accessible ways to explore microscopic life under the microscope and it is something that can easily be repeated at home.

Senior lecturer Andy Chandler-Grevatt said: “The day offered a new perspective on a well-known, but underappreciated habitat.

“The premise of Moss Safari relies on finding five uniquely recognisable microscopic animals at a low magnification of x 40, achievable on the simplest of microscopes.

“The children’s questions were insightful, and they took the microscopes with enthusiasm and demonstrated scientific thinking.“

Feedback from those taking part included:

“There is a whole new world in moss.”

“There are much more animals in moss than I expected.”

“That there is more to moss. There’s a lot in moss.”

“I liked going outside and exploring the moss there.”

Andy has written a book, Moss Safari: Exploring the secret life of moss which is published this month. There will be an online book launch on 19 June at 6pm which is free to attend. Learn more and book your place.

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